What's your "area of responsibility"?

I guess I would say my area of responsibility is driving, I’m very cautious, but at the same time proactive. And yes, it definitely stems from negative experiences. My dad was in a crash ten years ago and his car rolled over 15 times into a ditch. Amazingly, he only suffered minor scratches and a broken arm.

Watching the news and reporting it to my friends.

Well, I have my family responsibilities, my job responsibilities, and even my Fluther responsibilities, but all of those are equally shared among other people, so I don’t feel like everything would go to hell if I were to drop the ball.

There is an area of my life, though, where I have no such backup. I run a Zen temple. My Zen teacher handed the place over to me a few years ago. I do have some help with the logistical and administrative tasks, but I’m the only one there with teaching authority, for the time being. A lot of what makes the place tick is entirely up to me.

Honestly, I don’t feel that I’m very good at it. Most of the time I struggle with the feeling that my efforts are barely adequate, if that. I find myself wishing that someone would suddenly materialize who could nudge me aside and do this job the way it really ought to be done. But, alas, no such savior appears. So I muddle on as best I can.

Do I learn from negative experiences? Oh, you bet. I see ways that other Zen teachers screw up, and that makes me very, very vigilant about various pitfalls of the job. But mostly I’m painfully aware of my own flubs, and that pain is a powerful stimulus to be more skillful in the future.

There are a couple of folks there who seem to have good potential for teaching eventually, but that would be years down the road. I train them, yes, but the nature of this work is such that they really have to do most of their own training. I can’t do much to expedite the process.

I can’t say that I enjoy doing this, exactly. It constantly pushes me out of my comfort zone, which is actually quite a good thing for me. It’s a job that needs doing, and I just happen to be the guy that’s there to do it.

Giving random kindness and bringing laughter to everyone.

What do I do right, almost always? I think it’s the former. The latter doesn’t always work, especially when they are too dull to get the joke or are a grumpy type.

Does my good sense about this subject stem from negative experiences? Yes and no. I have always set my responsibities firmly, and the negative experience only strengthen my will to fulfill them.

Do I try to educate others? No. I don’t think it’s worth the time trying to preach. I’m not into preaching. I believe everyone has different opinions and it isn’t right to put my belief into others’ brain. I just do what I see fit and enjoy the day.

Keeping my mouth shut and staying out of the way. Except when it comes to household repairs, lawn service, Auto repairs, animal husbandry, plumbing, vacuuming and cooking the occasional meal.

I’m the caretaker of a farm which includes some livestock and my assistant Sam, a border collie. I own a horse who needs attention daily, but she returns it threefold. There are some orchards which require care: pruning, fertilizing, harvesting and a constant watch for pestilence. There is a small crew which requires some direction now and then. I have a boat which requires a lot of care, but I’ve pared that down to weekly visits to the dock. I’m not responsible for any humans, thank god. I cared for them for a quarter century and did it well and with passion. This is soooo much easier, simpler, and much less dramatic. Nobody dies if I screw this job up.

Practical skin care and bill paying.

redacted, aside from that, I am only responsible for myself.

My responsibilities changed a lot since my husband lost his job two months ago. We are still in a bit of limbo with responsibilities shifting.

At work in responsible for entering every piece of financial data that has to do with the business. Expenses, bills, invoicing, payroll, balancing the checking account, reconciling credit cards, everything. I also answer the phone and order items when necessary.

I think I may have worded this question somewhat inaccurately. I still don’t know what it is I really want to ask, but I’ll keep thinking.

In the meantime: I very much enjoyed your responses. Thanks!

Do you perhaps mean “competence” rather than “responsibility”?

^ No, not quite. I think I may just have been too wordy. My real question is the first sentence in the details, “What are you responsible about?”

Example answers of smart jellies who know that it is the first sentence of the details that’s important:

“My sodium intake.”

“The homeschooling of my children.”

“Preventing skin cancer.”

“Being Zen.”

Thanks, at least I know what I want to know now.

My cholesterol intake (I still need to be even better though).

Watching any child that is near me. I don’t care if their parent is right there I’m watching they don’t do something that could cause them harm.

Fire. Almost never a candle in my house, no plastics near the stove, pot handles to the side while cooking, and making sure hot irons are unplugged before leaving the house.

@JLeslie “Fire. Almost never a candle in my house, no plastics near the stove, pot handles to the side while cooking, and making sure hot irons are unplugged before leaving the house.”

Are you my long-lost twin?
His name is longlost.

@longgone Just consider my family your American relatives. The tradition of not playing with fire has been handed down through me mother’s side of the family.

^ Apparently we are related :)

^^Actually, my maternal grandfather’s family partly came from Austria and possibly other neighboring countries. We aren’t completely sure where borders were etc.

^ Oh, right! Well – it’s getting more and more likely. From now on, you shall officially be “longlost”.